ISLAND OF PATMOS: ST. JOHN IN EXILE
July 07,2020
This is an inspiring enactment by Dean Jones and company about the life of John the Beloved during his imprisonment on the Island of Patmos.
I have not been to the Island of Patmos. I like to imagine that when one would walk into the cave they would feel the power and energy of the Holy Spirit still there.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 07,2020
John 11:1-34,36-45 AMP
[1] Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. [2] It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. [3] So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.” [4] When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” [5] Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. [6] So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days. [7] Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” [8] The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?” [9] Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. [10] But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” [11] He said this, and after that said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.” [12] The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” [13] However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep. [14] So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” [16] Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.” [17] So when Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. [18] Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away; [19] and many of the Jews had come to see Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning [the loss of] their brother. [20] So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. [21] Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.” [23] Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].” [24] Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; [26] and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” [27] She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed and continue to believe that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God, He who was [destined and promised] to come into the world [and it is for You that the world has waited].” [28] After she had said this, she left and called her sister Mary, privately whispering [to her], “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” [29] And when she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him. [30] Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him. [31] So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her, saw how quickly Mary got up and left, they followed her, assuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. [32] When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” [33] When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled, [34] and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” [36] So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!” [37] But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?” [38] So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance]. [39] Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! [It is hopeless!]” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?” [41] So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].” [43] When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” [44] Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet tightly wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and release him.” [45] So then, many of the Jews who had come to [be with] Mary and who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done, believed in Him.
*17 Jesus purposefully stayed away for four days after Lazarus’ death. The Jews believed the soul hovered around the body for three days during which there was still hope. After four days all hope was gone.*
• With God a WAITING season is not a WASTED season.
JESUS AND HOW WE CAN RELATE TO HIM
Monday
July 06,2020
Men’s Bible Study
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 06,2020
Proverbs 19:20-21 AMP
[20] Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come.
[21] Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).
• If God always MET our expectations, He would not have the opportunity to EXCEED them.
THE CORRECT FOUNDATION
Sunday
July 05,2020
Pastor Bob
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 05,2020
Psalm 62:1-12 AMP
[1] For God alone my soul waits in silence; From Him comes my salvation.
[2] He alone is my rock and my salvation, My defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened.
[3] How long will you attack a man So that you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
[4] They consult only to throw him down from his high position [to dishonor him]; They delight in lies. They bless with [the words of] their mouths, But inwardly they curse. Selah.
[5] For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him, For my hope is from Him.
[6] He only is my rock and my salvation; My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged.
[7] On God my salvation and my glory rest; He is my rock of [unyielding] strength, my refuge is in God.
[8] Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
[9] Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion). In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value]; They are together lighter than a breath.
[10] Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
[11] God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
[12] Also to You, O Lord, belong lovingkindness and compassion, For You compensate every man according to [the value of] his work.
Ephesians 4:29-32 AMP
[29] Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
[30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].
[31] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].
[32] Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
JOSHUA 2:10-17
Saturday
July 04,2020
Women’s Bibly Study
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 04,2020
John 8:32-36 AMP
[32] And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
[33] They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”
[34] Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin.
[35] Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever.
[36] So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
Hebrews 9:14-15 AMP
[14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?
[15] For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 03,2020
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 AMP
[8] Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
•[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].
[10] But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.
[11] When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
•[12] For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].
[13] And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
Matthew 7:7-8 AMP
[7] “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.
[8] For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.
John 14:14 AMP
•[14] If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.
• How do we know what to BELIEVE?
• How do we know what to SAY?
• How do we know how to ACT?
• How do we know how to INTERACT with our Heavenly Father and Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ?
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
July 02,2020
• True prayer is not about getting OUR WAY, but SURRENDERING our WILL.
Luke 22:42 AMP
[42] saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”
• Prayer reminds us that we are Not in control and keeps us close to the ONE who IS.
Matthew 6:9-13 AMP
[9] “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] ‘Give us this day our daily bread. [12] ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. [13] ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
• Prayer is NOT just asking but TRUSTING.
Matthew 15:28 AMP
[28] Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in My power] is great; it will be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
