BELIEF

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).

 

Jesus says that it is absolutely essential to believe in God (the one who sent Him).  It is the only way to experience eternal life!  The word, "believe", means to trust, to put one's confidence in something or someone.  It is more than just intellectual assent.  It is the placing of our life in God's hands.  Here's a great way to discover what you are putting your trust in: Who do you run to when you are in a crisis?  A Friend, a family member, yourself?

 

Today, should you experience a need, before you do anything else, take your need to God.  Then wait on Him to respond.

LISTEN

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).

 

According to Jesus in John 5:24, there are two conditions for eternal life: #1 hearing Jesus' word and #2 believing the One who sent Him.  Let's take the first one today--hearing Jesus' word.  The very beginning of John's gospel describes Jesus as "the Word".  "In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (John 1:1-3).  The Word is not just something to hear--but it is something to see, something to feel, and something to experience.  You are one of the "all things" that came into being through Him!

 

Today, let me encourage you to spend some time with the Word.  Start at the beginning and reread John's Gospel listening to what Jesus is saying.  As you walk around today, look for Jesus at work around you.  Invite Him to permeate your life throughout the day--to make Himself obvious.  If you ask to experience Jesus today--I have no doubt that you will!

DOUBT

"And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

 

Is it possible that our doubt prevents Jesus from working?  Are there miracles that Jesus intends to accomplish that don't happen simply because we don't believe that they will?  I'm convinced that one of the biggest obstacles to healing that we face is transforming our minds from doubt to belief.  Yesterday at Grace River we saw a miracle.  Before the service, Judy told me that she had extreme pain in her back and that the only reason she came to church was because we were teaching on healing and she believed that God would heal her.  Well, He did!  During the worship and during the message, God completely removed the back pain to the point that Judy was able to touch her toes demonstrating the healing to us all. Faith (belief) is the first finger on the "Hand that Heals".

 

Today, constantly remind yourself that our God is a God who heals.  It's His nature to heal!  It's unusual when He doesn't heal!  One of His names is Jehovah Rapha  -  יהוה רפא   - "The God Who Heals".

HARVEST

"Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together" (John 4:36).

 

There are three promises that are listed here--promises for us when we join Jesus in His work of harvesting. #1--WAGES: Jesus pays His employees and you can expect that you will be well-compensated for your work.  #2--FRUIT:  There is not much in this world that you can take with you to heaven but Jesus promises that the people we bring to Jesus will live forever with us in Heaven.  #3--CELEBRATION:  There is ecstatic joy in the in the Kingdom when even one comes to faith (See Luke 15:10).

 

There is no doubt that today each of us will come in contact with someone that Jesus is drawing to Himself.  Join Him in the harvest!

HARVEST

"Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35).

 

We have seen in these days at Grace River that God is drawing many new people our way.  There is no shortage of broken and hurting people and God seems to be guiding many to Grace River.  Our mission is to be a safe place where anyone can come as they are and find hope and healing.  Jesus' mission is to reach broken people and then heal them.  Our mission is to join Jesus in His mission.

 

Today, let's be aware that there are broken people all around us.  Look for them, find them, and bring them on Sunday to Grace River.

HUNGRY

"Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work'" (John 4:34).

 

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus responds to the Satan's temptation to turn stones into bread, by declaring, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God".  Clearly, our hunger is to be satisfied by knowing and doing the will of God.  We often spend our days chasing after what we believe will bring true purpose and meaning into our desperate lives.  The result is often a life filled with hurts, habits, and hangups.  Jesus points in a different direction.  He insists that we feed on God's words, that we do them, and that we find meaning in accomplishing the work of God.

 

Today, spend some time reading the Word of God.  Think about what it says.  Listen for God's wishes.  Then join Jesus in accomplishing His work.

HUNGRY

"Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.'  But He said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.'" (John 4:31-32).

 

It might surprise you to find out that Jesus has ways to satisfy your hunger that you have never imagined.  He has food that you don't know about.  We hunger for a great many things in this life: security, fulfillment, health, wealth, fame, love, and the list goes on.  In the same that we my settle--or even prefer--a burger and fries, we also settle for what's cheap, what's convenient, and what's quick when comes to meeting our insatiable hunger for purpose in life.  We cruise through the drive-through for a super-sized order of hurts, habits, and hangups, ignorant that a delicious chef's signature dish has been personally prepared for us.

 

Today, let me invite you to make a dinner date with Jesus.  He has a feast awaiting you--and He hates to eat alone.