Walking Through The New Testament

The temple will be torn down and rebuilt in 3 days…

John 2:19-25
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

The Temple had been desecrated enough. It had become a mall, a place where popularity contest and showing off happened daily. A place where people were more concerned about how they looked and who they knew rather than worshipping and serving God. It became a place to check off some boxes rather than to love God together. Jesus needed to fix this.

The wonderful memory of Jesus’ is great. They had remembered that Jesus has said that the this Temple would be torn down and rebuilt in three days. It was His Disciples that recalled this fact.

It’s good to be shaken around a bit sometimes. It is easy to grow complacent and weary. It is in that time that change and repentance must occur. Jesus was prompting us to change, and he continues to do it every day. Your tables will be turned over, coins thrown all over, and cattle ran off with a whip. You will lose everything if you refuse to glorify God in your blessings. I’m not saying He will take it, but you will lose it. It will be turned over. Your life will turn upside down.

It is a good thing. Being shaken up can produce wonders in so many lives. You just need to surrender to Him. Once that happens and we give our lives to God, you now walk in the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Jesus public ministry begins…

John 2:1-12
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Revealing His glory. Amen. This is an amazing occurrence, as it kick started a life that would not only change lives, but save lives. And who was the one that sparked the situation? His mother.

Jesus answered to the Father and followed His instructions precisely. This situation was God planned, and Jesus came through. Action had met preparation. His whole life, Jesus had studied the Holy Scriptures. He knew who He was, and what He was here for. Without a doubt Jesus was the most purpose driven and Heavenly guided man to ever walk this earth.

He will come again. At the will of the Father, He will come again. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Phillip picked up and went with Jesus. Didn’t ask any questions, just believed. He then immediately went to get Nathanael. When Nathanael saw Jesus, he knew Him immediately as well. This speaks directly to two demonstrations of faith.

Faith does not always look the same in every person. It manifests itself in different ways to the eye of your fellow man. It may being singing, it may be serving, it may be simply arms raised high, it could be down on your knees in prayer, it could be hugging, it could be in so many ways that we must be careful not to judge.

We are humans, and by this we are sinful I’m nature. It is through these verses that we see that faith can manifext itself and become visible I’m different ways. It isn’t our job to qualify any man, that has already been done. It is our job to witness, testify, and support our fellow man in their walk with Christ. It is also imperative that we continue to learn ad we grow in Him.

Ad we grow, we will see Him in every aspect of our lives. The the free will and freedom to choose comes into play. Tough choices are placed before us so that we can grow and begin know ourselves the way that Phillip and Nathanael were doing. The key is, that you follow Him. This happens spiritually first, then the physical will follow. That is faith. Faith that repentance and change will occur in Him. In Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 1:35-42
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]).

Those that knew John the Baptist knew that he was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Without hesitation,  his followers left him to follow Jesus. There was no remorse or jealousy in this, as they knew that Jesus was the Messiah. How? John had done his job. They had been prepared by the one that they had followed. John the Baptist had done his job well.

What is our purpose? What is your calling? Andrew knew his. The first thing that he did was go and get his brother and tell him the news of who had arrived. Andrew did not hesitate to spread the news. That is our job as well. As believers we are to spread the good news that Jesus is coming. Like Andrew, we are to prepare the way for Jesus to come into the lives of as many as we can. How?

The liberation will no be televised. We must speak it to all we know and don’t know. Our parents, our spouses, our siblings, our family, our friends, our colleagues, a our bosses, yes and complete strangers must be told by word of mouth about Jesus. All must be told by you. You cannot assume that they know what Jesus did for us, for you, for them. You must speak it to them with the power and authority given to you in the Holy Spirit.

John knew his purpose. Andrew knew his purpose. We all have a purpose. As a believer it is time to spread the word that Jesus came to save us, suffered for us, lived a sinless and blameless life for us, and carried our sins away when He died for us. You are qualified. You are empowered. You are righteous. Now, go and speak the news today. Start small. Do not ever despise small beginnings. God is with us. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John the Baptist recognizes his time. Purpose and action through understanding and faith…

John 1:28-34
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

I was in Moi’s Bridge, Kenya when I was baptized by the Holy Spirit. I can recall every detail of the church and the concrete floor where I stood that day. I was praying and praising the work of God in that land ,and I felt this presence in me. It sparked me to realize that there was a question being asked tobthe congregation. The question was, “Who will lead these young children to Jesus?” I looked up and saw about 30 or so elementary age children looking around for someone to step up. It felt like an eternity as no one responded to lead them. Then suddenlu, like someone was physically pushing me towards them, I moved.

I began to walk towards the podium and stage and I was scared what was to come. After all, I had never led any one, much less a child, to God. As I moved toward them, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit telling me to not be afraid. The closer I got, the more I realized that he was with me. I was saturated in the presence of God. A microphone was handed to me and I began to speak. The prayer for these kids was not mine. It was the Holy Spirit speaking through me. I felt like a pipe, and out of this pipe came His words. His blessings were filling me and overflowing to the children. That day, they received God.

From that day to now, the Holy Spirit has been a constant communicator with me. All through my medical situations, all through my pain, He was with me . I consult with Him often, and He leads me.

John knew this. Only one can baptize with the power of the ahoy Spirit, and on the day He was crucified, we were all washed clean and made new. On this day however, He had arrived. God was on earth for us.

So much has happened since that beautiful day. My life is blessed with purpose and direction. I am now on a path that brings me closer and closer to him each and every day. All you need do is ask and be ready to act when He calls. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK