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You can be assured that our organization is legitimate, and we will be good stewards of the resources we collect. We have boots on the ground in Florida and The Bahamas to ensure your contributions go only to those in need. One of our churches in Freeport was also affected terribly by the storm. We will rebuild!

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Blessings!

Ever fell into the trap of asking (or even complaining to) God about the returns on your investment in His kingdom? One young man felt so good about his prospects that he was confident enough to say to Jesus “I’ve kept all the laws.” The disciples looking on saw a very disappointed young man walk away in response to Jesus’ answer. At this point, Peter quips “Well, we’ve left everything to follow you. What’s in it for us?” (Mat. 19:27; emphasis mine).

We just can’t help ourselves in not only comparing ourselves with others, but asking the same set of questions the original audience put to Jesus:
 “What will I (we) get for our labor? 19:27
 “Why don’t I get more for my effort? 20:11
 “How can this be fair?” 20:12
 Since I (we) have sacrificed so much, will I (we) receive more than him/her?” 20:21-22

These questions often lead to a spirit of discontent. Jesus addressed this issue in Matthew 20, summing up His answer with “So the last shall be first, and the first will be last” (Mat. 19:30). Kingdom priority is totally reversed. We can get bogged down with those types of questions, feeling discontented, discouraged, depressed and living in constant despair. But the truth is, we can never out-give God, and have absolutely no reason to question God’s dealings with others. In fact, Jesus encourages us not to “judge” (Mat.7:31). So what if others seem to be winning now? So what if someone has more than me? So what if the other person seems to be getting ahead (faster, accumulating more)? Here’s assurance- The Lord will more than compensate those who have sacrificed for Him (19:29). There will not only be physical blessings, but eternal blessings. “While it may appear you are giving up everything now and seemingly “last,” rest assured you will be eternally rewarded and be among the “first”. While those who “appear to have everything now” and reject God will discover they have lost everything and be “last.” Take courage! You cannot out-give God. Keep on doing the work of ministry!

Ezra serves as proof God can partner with just one person to accomplish His will in earth. Ezra “set in his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (7:10). His vocation was priest, scribe, leader. His whole life was dedicated to God’s purposes. He served God in humility and obedience. “His knowledge of the Scriptures was obvious even to the king that he was appointed to lead the second wave of returnees; teaching them and administering national life” (Nasb). Ezra was trustworthy. Modeling true stewardship. God rewarded Ezra’s efforts, “placing His hands upon him” (7:9b).
Here’s a man that knew how to lead the people of God. Especially because he was trained to do so – a scribe, versed in the Law of Moses; a skilled student of the Pentateuch; a practitioner of its commands; an effective teacher (Larson, 80). Imagine if we were intentional with God’s Word as Ezra was cultured.
What I do like about Ezra though, is that it was God who shaped him. God always prepares whom He wishes to accomplish His purposes, and Ezra was all too willing to participate. How I pray to be like this. Here’s the good news – “A person’s willingness to know and practice God’s Word will have a direct effect on how God uses his/her life” (Nasb, 785). The call of God remains the same for all who wish to dedicate their lives to Him; only, “devote yourself to practicing the will of God” (Larson, 85). He promises His Presence and Provision.

Blessings everyone!

From the Book Of Ezra 7
References at the blog: https://theway-church..com/2018/02/the-man-god-used-greatly.html

Baptism Saves! Yes it does!

Today I witnessed the power of God's spiritual kingdom upon this lady... Without a doubt, she experienced Pentecost. She received the Promise - ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind’ (Acts 2:17). She’d been attending Sunday School for a few weeks now and last Tuesday, decided she wanted to be baptized. We were so excited for her. God is moving upon the hearts of the people of this island. So, here we are. Today was her BIG day. You could sense the anticipation of a blessing in her spirit. She was hungry. She wanted God. I saw her on Wednesday night at the annual convention, she told me she couldn’t wait!!
It wasn’t long after she was “immersed” into the water that she came up stuttering…she began to worship God…the intensity of her worship increased…and then…she began to SPEAK IN TONGUES!! Just like on the day of Pentecost.

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Keeping in mind the significance of the moment, I thought I would pen my thoughts on Baptism. What happens when a person gets baptized? Well, Baptism now saves! The Apostle Peter describes it this way: “Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. Baptism takes care of the legal problem of guilt for sin. It satisfies the penalty. Through the process of Baptism, the Holy Spirit regenerates the sin sick heart, taking away the guilt through the power of the blood. Peter in responding to the group of people who were confronted with the Gospel who asked the question “What shall we do?”, said to them “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
REPENT > The turning away from
BE BAPTIZED > An outward act of receiving God’s grace for the forgiveness of sins

Please continue reading on my blog: http://theway-church..com/2017/04/this-lady-was-baptized-today-what-is.html
Blessings!

The Big Miss On Palm Sunday

Jesus walked wherever He went. There were no cars, no bicycles, no motorbikes, no trucks, no planes, no buses. They had chariots, horses and other animals of use… but His preferred method of travel was by foot. This makes me think about the days when there were strikes in the country and a couple of us would “foot it” for miles back home from school. Those were the days. The good old days. Nowadays, if you are like me, then I park my car near a mall entrance, return to my car, then drive to the other side of the mall (unless of course my wife is with me..then I have to walk the entire mall. I get lazy sometimes. But not Jesus! He loved “footing it”. Except when He traveled by boat, or walked on water! Today would be different. Today, He gave His disciples a different kind of instruction:
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it (Mark 11:1-7)
His followers knew something was about to happen. Why did Jesus want to travel on a young donkey? Imagine what was going through their heads…He is up to something Today.

Please read the entire article on my blog: http://theway-church..com/2017/04/the-big-miss-on-palm-sunday.html
Blessings!

The Mission of God in Scriptures

To gain an understanding of God’s heart for all the nations of the world, it is necessary to see God’s heart through the pages of Scripture, beginning with the Old Testament. Mission “arises from the heart of God himself and is communicated from his heart to ours.(Wright, 24). Let’s investigate this divine drama unfolding through a series of seven (7) "Acts" described by Moreau throughout the pages of biblical history. As you review this, try to place the many biblical figures and stories you have been taught in Bible studies and Sunday School within each "Act":

Act 1 – The Creation and the Fall
In this very first Book of the Bible, we see a sovereign God who created the entire universe. We see an omnipresent, omnipotent God who creates out of his own character of goodness. He declares this in Genesis 1:31 with reference “very good”. God creates the earth and everything in it within days. He then creates mankind, starting with Adam and Eve then puts them into a garden. They were created in his image (Gen 1: 26 -27) and were given dominion over every created thing. Adam and Eve were instructed to be fruitful and multiply and to subdue. They were given choice/free will, which resulted in the Fall. Adam and Eve listened to satanic influence in the form of a serpent who tricked them into bypassing God’s will for their lives. The result was a curse upon them and the serpent. This curse also affected the earth (Genesis 3:14-16)

In this we see the beginning of the struggle between God and the devil, good and evil, man and God, Man and the devil. The divine drama unfolds from this point onward with God putting in place his plan to redeem mankind back to himself. Adam and Eve’s choice (the Fall) would have lasting effects upon perpetual generations. Although very broken, Adam and Eve were given the promise of a blessing in the form of a seed of Eve who would be the redemption necessary to repair the broken relationship between God and mankind – God’s mission to the nations

Please read the entire 7 Acts on my blog @ http://theway-church..com/2017/04/gods-strategy-for-world.html
Blessings!

Great question. I am so glad you asked! Just in case you are not familiar with Jesus' story...He was in the beginning with the Father (He was pre-destined indeed to this work, even before the creation of the world, but has been plainly manifested in these last days for the sake of you who, through Him) 1 Peter 1:20-21. And He desired a people to love Him and to worship him. So He created - first a home (earth), then a people (starting with Adam and Eve. He gave them free will to choose. They did well for a while (just like any Christian...I do this as well. I do good for a season, then I mess up) but then they allowed the devil to deceive them. Adam and Eve rejected God (Genesis 3). Since then it has been a downward spiral of human history. It has been God pursuing man and man both seeking and rejecting God. The Bible gives several examples (Cain and Abel, Jacob, Abraham, Samuel, Moses,Pharaoh, The Israelites (the ultimate example of rejection) and the pattern has continued throughout history.

To fix the problem as I explained in the post, Jesus Himself came into the world as a man to restore this broken relationship. Many may argue all this, but this is the message of the Bible, God's message. He came to save His people from their sins...Remember now, His people. He wishes that everyone be saved and spend an eternity with Him,but many will reject Him. They will persecute His people (now the church), they will create false religions (this is how the devil will take people with him to hell), they will torture and kill family members who accept the message of Jesus, they will use media to fool the world into idol worship (worship man, money, positions, pastors, clothes, cars, drugs, sex...the list goes on and on..why? so that the world will keep on rejecting Jesus). The biggest one I hear...Christianity is a white man's gospel; or there is no such thing as God. Well, anyone that rejects this message of Jesus does so at their own peril.

Some find this message difficult. I can only tell you what He said: Deuteronomy 4:35,39 — Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

His people would be anyone that accepts Him as their Lord and Savior. We do this through Baptism. Baptism saves (1 Peter 3:21). When He came to His very own people the Jewish nation that He considered His special people they rejected Him :
John 1:11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him
No matter the miracles He performed, nor the food He provided (fed 5000 in one case) He had a major following. Oh they loved Him. But then when He said " I am the way, I am the truth, I am the Life...No one comes to the Father except through Me"...(John 14:6)

Worse Jesus said to the religious folks (not the sinners) the religious folks "But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I will give eternal life to them, and they will never perish... I and the Father are One" (John 10:26-30). You know what they did after He told them that?
The Jews picked up stones gain to stone Him (Rejection). They finished Him off later when they crucified Him (John 19).
Sinners reject Jesus message everyday, and Christians reject Jesus message when they don't live Christ Like. Everybody needs Jesus because "everyone has sinned and fallen short". Even if they fight against the message. The truth remains the same. Those who believe are saved.

So...Jesus' ultimate Message:
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”…

What Is The Purpose And Value Of Preaching Today?

Preaching the word of God is our priority. Preaching redeems. Preaching sets free! Jesus modeled this during the time of His ministry and expected the same from the ones He “sent”. The following biblical texts makes it very clear:
Jesus said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” (Mark. 1:38) - It was Jesus’ priority. It must be ours.

Mark 1:39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons – People benefit when we preach.

Mark 6:12 They went out and preached that men should repent – The ultimate benefit.
According to Nine Marks, “Preaching is important to the diet of the believer”. It is through preaching that the Word of God “convicts, converts, builds up and sanctifies people”. Preaching and teaching God’s Word is the avenue through which the Good News is delivered and in it, we can find hope of reconciling to Christ. The message of the Gospel is the only message that we can give to people that can grant them salvation:

John 3:15 " Whoever believes in Him have eternal life"
This is difficult for many to accept. What does Jesus say about those who reject His message: John 12:48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day".

Read the full article on my blog: http://theway-church..com/2017/03/why-do-we-preach-and-teach-christ-jesus.html
Blessings!

What does leadership look like in your church? How about your leadership style?

I conducted a study of the leadership styles of our early New Testament church leaders as well as the ministry of Jesus. This was an intensive study, covering the books of Ephesians, Acts and The Gospel of Mark. I was encouraged, yet convinced that there is much work to do in many of our churches. Along with the study, I reviewed the Nine Marks of a Healthy Church Model. Please see link below. So, how does your church match up to the example of the early New Testament church? How is your leadership style in view of the example set by Jesus and the Apostle Paul?

Jesus – Biblical Leadership

Jesus was mission minded. He was connected to the source from the beginning, always modelling what He expected. He kept up with a routine – Went regularly to the synagogue; prayed quite often, most times alone and in remote places; He relied upon the Father (the ultimate expression of leadership – You see me, you see the Father); He was a man of authority – He spoke the Word of God; He cared about injustice – Jesus confronted those taking advantage of the less fortunate and the weak (we see this in his care for children, the poor, widows, women and sinners). Jesus confronted sin and hypocrisy – Wherever He saw it, He addressed the issue head on, rebuking when necessary. Jesus considered sin and hypocrisy the likes of ‘leaven’, affecting everyone and everything it touched. Jesus was compassionate – He cared about the physical needs of the people. We see this in His acts of healing, providing food, working miracles and casting out demons. His work ethic was unquestioned – He got up early and worked till late; yet He was sure to encourage His disciples to rest.

Continue reading @ my Blog: http://theway-church..com/2017/03/how-do-you-view-leadership-of-your.html
Blessings!

Great! That's what I want - to live righteously and be blessed (everyday)!! Friendship with God
Thanks for this post.

Thanks. Blessings!

"We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted”.

So said the children of Israel. This got me thinking. How many times do we look back and wished for things we left behind? Friends, Positions, Way of life, Level of Devotion?

The Israelite nation had been under bondage for years. Maybe you too know what it means to have been bound. Your source of bondage could by physical or emotional. In their case, the Egyptian government made them slaves out of fear. They cried out to their God. He answered their prayer. Their salvation came in the form of Moses. One day, God visited Moses in the desert. Sometimes it takes a desert experience to occur before God will show up. He said “Moses, I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows” (Ex. 3:7)

You can’t tell me that God doesn’t care about His people. Please note that God’s sovereignty dictates that He does not respond to every injustice. Sometimes our pain is the result of our decisions. I think of King David who (1) Saw the woman (2) Called for the woman (3) Entered into a relationship with the woman (4) Covered it up by setting up her husband (4) Issuing a command to kill the husband…. There was a consequence for his actions.

Please read the full article @ http://theway-church..com/2017/03/not-satisfied-are-you-looking-back.html
Blessings!

A Study From 2 Timothy
Believers are encouraged to pray without ceasing (2:3)
Parent and guardians should teach their children about God (2:5)
A leader should always encourage others to “keep the faith, don’t get stagnant” (2:6)
Christians should hold dear the Gospel; be good stewards (2:13-14)
We should always pray God’s blessings upon those who support missionary endeavors (2:18)
We should make every effort to support our missionaries – seek them out (2: 17)
Paul encouraged Timothy not to get lazy (2:6)
The minister of God constantly “reminds and give charge” the people (2:14)
Christians should not waste their time on “idle babblings”. We should “rightly divide” God's Word to eradicate the cancer of false teaching (2:17)

Christians should not practice evil (2:19)
Evil men and imposters will grow and continue to deceive but the church should “continue in the Apostles doctrine” (3:13-15)
The Doctrine should be taught from a young age (3: 15)
Scripture is useful for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness and for the equipping of the saints (3:16-17)
Christians should continue to “do good works” (3:17)
Christians should “Preach the Word” (4:2)
Christians should “Do the work of an evangelist” (4: 5)
Christians should remember that God empowers them to do His work, preserves them, and delivers them from every evil work” (mouth of the lion) 4:17-18

Blessings!

Show some love!! Be a blessing!!

I appreciate that.... Thanks. Still, part of my calling is to permeate the Gospel in what my seem to be resistant territory.
It will be a labor of love...Hopefully someone will find peace and hope through the Power of the Gospel.

Hello, I respectfully disagree. If you read my entire article (hopefully you visited the blog) you will notice
advice is given to both men and women. In God's Kingdom, both are equal. We all submit to God's plan
and will for our lives. If you look at this through the lens of the world, most often, Biblical text will be seen as
harsh. Biblical doctrine will never be understood by those outside the kingdom. Here is why - "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).This teaching is only for those who accept Christ as Lord. It is they that will listen
and follow. If an unbeliever accepts, Praise Jesus! He came to save those who are lost, so that they can find hope.
Blessings!

The world and the devil fights against God’s Kingdom Order. If you are having trouble with your marriage, with your children, with the people in your church, with the boss, with your co-workers then this applies to you.

Consider this. Is my life structured under God’s Kingdom Order? The Bible has provided us with some advice to live a fulfilled life.

These are the Qualities of a Sound Church. It also defines a Healthy Family (Titus 2)

Men:
We should be SOBER (not given to strong drink) – Don’t be a drunkard. You Ruin Your life!
We should be REVERENT – Dignified, sensible, honoring God
We should SOUND in LOVE, FAITH & PATIENCE – Healthy and strong in these areas (Go to church. Be a leader. Be patient with our wives and kids. We do not lay hands on our own blood.)
We should remain CHASTE if we are unmarried – NO FORNICATION! NO CHEATING! Married - NO CHEATING! NO FORNICATION!

Young Men:
We too should be SOBER – Act sensibly young man! Work hard for what you want. Don’t envy other people stuff. Don’t kill for what is not yours.
We should DO GOOD
We should have SOUND SPEECH – Be blameless. People should not say bad things about you
We should be OBEDIENT – Be a good listener. Stay committed
We should be Men of Integrity – Be of good character
We should be CHASTE – Not married yet? Keep yourself together! NO FORNICATION!

What about the Women and Young Women?

Check out the full article at my blog:
http://theway-church..com/2017/03/having-relationship-issues-this-is-must.html

Blessings!

I'd like to add to this discussion. The sinner sins. That's what he does. All humans sin.
All humans were born with free will. We are all given the right to choose. Man chose to distance himself from God(Genesis 3). Usually that is what we do - we sin. Why? Because we are guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment our mother conceived us (Psalm 51:5). The only way to be free from the chains of sin is to become a "child of God" - one must be born again (John 3:3-6). Otherwise, because we are innately sinful we cannot help ourselves.
We will keep on sinning. Galatians 5:19-21 shows you how bad we can get. The opposite of self control is self-indulgence, un-restraint or even indiscipline. We act this way when we do not have the Spirit of God in us. We sin. But when we become believers, the same God who created heaven and earth resides in us, guiding us into "truth". He becomes our self-control. So notice, Christians will sin, and sometimes badly! But that is when they do not allow the Spirit of God to guide their words thoughts and actions. When a Christian obeys the Word of God and listens to the Holy Spirit, they absolutely cannot sin. It is then that they can have real self-control, because self control is a FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:23). When you have the Spirit of God working in you, He restrains your appetites, your passions and your desires. That's why Christians can find strength to remain faithful to their husband and wives. When we refuse to listen to the spirit, we can do all sorts of evil - that's when we have No Self - Control. But first, a sinner needs God to have real self control. Other than that they are disciplined enough to do good (works) with God's Spirit. Even the devil can do good. But real Self-Control is found In-Christ Jesus.

Someone in this thread said it well "Self Control is a work of Grace". Yes! We nail our flesh to the cross!

Christian Ethics in the Workplace - Do I live two lives?

How is a Christian to conduct themselves in the marketplace? What’s our approach to ethical challenges?
This issue is very important as it speaks to colliding worldviews that influence how we live out our day to day lives. Ethics in the workplace is of particular interest to me as I have struggled with this issue for years. I was a supervisor in different capacities over the past 15 years and in every role to which I was assigned, my Christian worldview dictated my actions. It influenced how aggressive I was in conducting business, the criteria for becoming a part of my team, employee/employer relationships, customer/business relationships, the efficiency of the operations, rewards and motivations, accountability and performance reviews, diversity in the workplace, music in the workplace, religion on the workplace and the list goes on.

One thing that was obvious was that I operated on a different level than my peers. In fact, at one point my boss alluded that my “Christian religion” is what was preventing me from being as demanding as I should be on my employees. He wondered then if I could “play the game”. It was obvious that I was not fighting as the others were (unfairly) doing.

Please continue reading on my Blog page:
http://theway-church..com/2017/03/christian-ethics-in-workplace-do-i-live.html

Hey guys...sounds like some of us are not sure what it means to be born again.
To be born again means entrance into God's Spiritual Kingdom. It demands a change
One of the best ways to explain change is to read (from the Bible) Galatians 5:16-26.
We were once sinners condemned to face the penalty of Hell. When you are Born Again
you are Redeemed from that penalty, Justified! Sin penalty paid! Now you live a changed
life as expressed in some of these posts.

Please check out a related post on Salvation/Change at my blog:
http://theway-church..com/2017/03/salvation-assurance-does-being-good.html

This is true! Many people really don't know what their purpose is and rely on the preacher man
to do all the work. Some are just lazy! Thank God for the faithful.

Hi, Most of us have never seen people being miraculously healed before our eyes. But many have
experienced the power of God doing such amazing work - especially in countries where people rely
more on Faith than on doctors and medicine. I believe God can and still work miracles. For those
having the Holy Spirit, we can claim and experience His miraculous power in the restoration of
relationships, speaking in tongues, healing and the power to be freed from all sorts of captivity.
The good news is we pray and see Him heal our sickness, and we pray and He provides recovery
when we go to the doctor. Praise Jesus! It is a shame when people make mockery with pretense
miracles in the media.

Why are some people healed in response to prayer and some are not?


Without a doubt, God heals. God incarnate at the onset of His earthly mission declared His Spiritual Kingdom to be present; a Kingdom in which He heals the brokenhearted, He releases those who are held captive, He gives sight to the blind and heals all manner of diseases (Luke 4:18-20, Matthew 4:23-24). Wherever Jesus went there was demonstration of His divine power to control the elements of this physical world. The Psalmist David in praise to God reminds us to “Bless the Lord, not forget His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103:2-3). The Apostle Peter declared to Arenas who was bedridden and paralyzed for 8 years “Arise, Jesus Christ heals you” (Acts 9:34). The death and resurrection of Christ defeated sin and death, providing salvation and healing for those in – Christ (Isaiah 53:5).

To this end, the New Testament Church is built upon this truth. A benefit of being a part of the family of God is access to His power – the power to heal. In one of Jesus’ parting discourses He said “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well” (Mark 16:17-18). Jesus calls the church to be patient and persevering when praying for the sick/healing. In God’s Kingdom order He instructs those who are sick or weakened by their suffering to pray, as well as call for the elders of the church to not only pray, but to provide comfort, support and strength. Now, whether achieved through the efforts of the elders or the community of believers making intercession, or the effort of the one who is sick, it is “the prayer of faith” that will “raise the sick person up” (James 5:15). It is this kind of prayer that God will answer to which the sick will be healed. God is moved by faith. We saw Him respond to this kind of faith throughout the Gospel and this “kind of faith, the prayer of faith” is what He calls for when praying for the sick, or when we pray for ourselves.

So why is it that some prayers for healing are answered and others are not?

Continue reading this article on my blog page:
http://theway-church..com/2017/03/why-are-some-people-healed-and-some-are.html

What Has God Called You To Do? Do You Really Want To Know?

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? When I was younger, people would often call me preacher. You know, when people call you something long enough you begin to believe it. As I look back over my young years I remember being conscious about some task I should do for God, but not sure what it was. As I grew older I recognized that churches were built on personalities. One of the churches I attended, if a young man wasn’t as expressive as the Pastor good luck being used. Then there were all these rules in church – Don’t wear shorts, don’t wear short sleeve shirts, don’t wear a beard, don’t go to the movies, don’t go to the beach, don’t mix with the sinner, don’t get involved in sports, don’t work in certain places! What is a brother supposed to do with his life? I won’t even touch the subject of what women go through in the church. Church can be brutal to women! For some, doing work in church is the result of playing politics. For some it's based on "Who you know and Who you are related to". Thankfully, in many cases God appointed his faithful servants.
Still, how do you know what to do with your life? Should it be based on what people have "confirmed"? Is it just me "seeking after the greater gifts"?

Visit my blog for the answer - One of the best assessments you'll ever do!

Look for the link in this same article (What Has God Called You To Do? Do You Really Want To Know?):

http://theway-church..com/

How do you know God is calling or has called you? Do you feel an unrelenting tug to build something, help someone, fix something that is broken...? Could it be God calling you to fill a need, provide comfort or solve a problem?


Please read my post here: Does God Still “Call” Men and Women?
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Blessings!

This was very encouraging Pastor. My we all we obedient to God, after all He did describe those who love Him as "obedient" and indeed, we do have a part to play. See that's what I love about God - He is moved by our faith! May we be Faith-Full today, and expectant in prayer. Blessings!

Lazarus is dead!

With that Jesus heads out to Bethany, hometown to His friends. Word got out to Martha that Jesus was approaching. She goes out to meet Him. When they meet up Martha says “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”. Then Jesus said to her “Your brother will rise again”. She responds “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (Jn. 11:20-23).

This scene begs me to consider my faith. Big faith or little faith? Kind of what happens when we face a situation and go to God in prayer. Yes we know He is all powerful and well able. Yes we know He can, but does our language really line up with the reality of God (God, you are all powerful, You are omniscient, You are good, Nothing is impossible for you). It seems to me that Martha believed it, hence the reason she said “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”. But does she fall back into doubt with her next statement “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”? Is that what we do when we pray? Do we go to God believing, but then resign to “It’s what it is…Whatever your will is Lord…We know you can”. It looks like Martha believed God can but ….

LITTLE FAITH

The New Living translation gives us a better view of the conversation. Let’s go back for a bit – John 11:
23Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
27“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.

In God’s economy there is power NOW! When the kingdom is present (wherever Jesus is) there is power NOW! This was yet another time that Jesus revealed who He was. To Martha He said “I AM”! I AM resurrection. I AM life Martha. Look at her response. Is it that she believed but… Could she have gone a little further… “Lord, You resurrection. Lord, You life. My brother and your friend…Bring him back to us now…I don’t want to wait till the last day”. Is it asking too much of God? Then again, no one had ever, ever raised a man from the dead in her time. So maybe her faith couldn’t raise that high. How big is my faith in prayer?
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The scene changes. Martha said her piece. I am bothered a bit about this scene though. Did Martha miss out on an opportunity. Do I miss out on opportunities after opportunities when I have conversations with God?
28Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29So Mary immediately went to him.

BIG FAITH


Here comes Mary! The one we always see at Jesus’ feet. The one who later wiped Jesus feet with her hair and anoint Him with oil. The same Mary who Martha complained to Jesus “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”. Jesus asked for Mary. She drops whatever she was doing, rushes out to meet Jesus. She said the same words Martha said earlier - “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus’ Response:
“Where have you put him?”
I am ahead of myself here. The Bible said earlier that Jesus told His disciples about this situation/event/opportunity “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
So we know this was going to happen. But I’d like to think that as the events of our lives play out, He is moved by our faith – in action. Look at what Mary did when she got to him - 32When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet. I don’t see Martha doing this when she met Jesus earlier. There’s just something about the way Mary related to Jesus versus the way Martha’s . Mary was a worshipper. We find her constantly in His presence and at His feet (Luke 10:39). Is this how I should be? Is this the faith that moves God?
33When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34“Where have you put him?” he asked them.

Mark Moore said it best “It is interesting that with the same words, Martha sparks Jesus into a theological discussion, but Mary moves His heart!” (446). How big is my faith?
With that we see God’s kingdom in action. We see how Jesus feels about the situation – “a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled” (33). Imagine how he felt when He died and went down to Hades? Next, Jesus wept – Don’t tell me Jesus does not care about me and my situation. Finally, God in action, Jesus said “Roll the stone aside”

BIG FAITH or LITTLE FAITH?

Reference:
Moore, M. The Chronological Life of Christ. The United States of America: Zondervan (2011)
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MY Blog: http://theway-church..com/