Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life” (NKJV).

John 21:24This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.” John finally owned up that the other disciple, the person that wrote this book, and the person that Jesus loved is he, John. Read the rest of this entry

Reflection

John 15:16 “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

Yesterday, we highlighted four different expressions of love for God based on growth [level] in God. The spiritual infant expresses love for God by eating, sleeping, crying, and so on. The spiritual child expresses love through obedience and devotion. Read the rest of this entry

Expressions

John 21:17 Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of John, do you have great affection for me?” Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!” Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!” (TPT)

Your expression of love to God depends on your level with God. How an ‘infant’ – a baby Christian, will  express love to God is different from how ‘a child’ in God that is not an infant will express love. How a ‘teenager’ in Christ will express love is different from how a ‘child’ would. Read the rest of this entry

Fisher Of Men

John 21:10-11 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.”

We would pick up from the final thought from yesterday, which is that we count people because people count. We see in scripture that Jesus was deliberate about picking fishermen as part of His disciples. Fishermen always counted the catch, no matter how large, they will take the time and trouble to count. Read the rest of this entry

Lead-A-Sheep

John 21:9 “When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.”

What do you say to boys that you left, and you expected them to be waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and going for missions, but they have gone back to fishing? You saw them for the first time and you are making breakfast. ‘Boys, come and eat breakfast.’ Read the rest of this entry

Love In Action

John 21:7 “Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.”

Peter jumped into the water and swam to the shore… wait a minute, why didn’t John also jump and outswim Peter? My thoughts were, he probably knew he would not stand a chance. Peter was probably a better swimmer and John hated to lose so much that he would not even get into the contest. Read the rest of this entry

Truth vs. Error

John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The story is told of a lady who was a medical doctor. God told her that He wanted her to do ministry full time. God also told her that if she chooses the medical field, He would bless it, make her prosper in it, and there will be no limit to it. However, the ministry was what God wanted her to do. Read the rest of this entry

Goodness

John 21:3&6Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all nightThen he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some…”

It is important to see Peter’s clout in today’s scripture reference. It is what Peter wants to do that everyone else wants to do. If Peter wants to play football, everyone wants to play. If Peter is playing golf, everybody is playing. If Peter is fishing, everyone is fishing. Read the rest of this entry

Male & Female

John 20:16,20,27 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” … As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side…  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side… Believe!”

Jesus used voice recognition with Mary but showed His scars to the disciples and Thomas. Why? Did you do your homework? When Jesus resurrected and made Himself known to Mary, He used His voice and Mary responded “Rabboni!”.  But when Jesus showed up to the disciples, the men, Read the rest of this entry

Loaded Benefits II

Acts 2:2-4 “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit…”

John 20:22Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” What is the difference between what happened in Acts 2 and this experience in John 20? When Jesus breathed on the disciples here, they were clothed with power and authority as a Church. Jesus was clothing them with His power and authority. John 20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” It is almost unbelievable that God will give men such authority. But the Church has that power to retain people’s sin and to forgive.

What happened at Pentecost was what was prophesied in Joel 2:28-29. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (KJV). Read the rest of this entry