Archive for the Read Thru The Bible 2021 Category

Jesus knew all along who Judas was, that he was stealing, and that he would betray Him. But He selected Judas as a disciple anyway, and let him into the inner circle of the 12. God sometimes allows evil into our inner circles. He sometimes uses the enemy to accomplish His purposes. Satan is the temporary ruler of this world. But have no doubt, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

My own visions from God began in August 2019. Since then I’ve experienced 3 or 4 visions every week in which my soul is transported to heaven and I pray for the world with all the saints. I am not the only one who has begun receiving visions, dreams, and prophecies. There are thousands upon thousands of us all over the world. And the message we are all getting is strikingly singular. God is doing a new thing. He is revealing Himself in a new way and calling people to Himself.

Do you want to hear God’s voice? Do you want to experience a richer spiritual life? Then YOU have to set aside time to spend with God. God isn’t going to just forcefully insert Himself into your life while you have your face glued to your phone or tv and blast you with a vision. YOU have to intentionally shut off all the noise, unplug from all the distractions, and consciously, purposefully seek God. If you will do that regularly, He WILL reveal Himself to you, somehow, some way. I promise you, He WILL.

Unplugging our souls from all the destructive distractions of this world to “wait in silence for God” must be intentional. It will never just happen by accident… the world will make sure of that. And God’s not going to MAKE you do it. We have to purposefully plan to make the time to meet with God regularly. We have to hold that time and guard it because everything in our busy lives will get in the way. But if we do this, set aside time for God, “wait in silence” for Him, He WILL meet us. He WILL give us “hope” and “strength” and “refuge.” We truly can “trust in Him at all times” and “pour out [our] hearts before Him” because “God is a refuge for us.”

When I was 30 years old I died, my spirit floated above my dead body, but God brought me back to life! I also encountered Jesus and I will never be the same. That is why I am completely unfazed by the mockers who think I am stupid for believing in Jesus. I have personally experienced God’s healing power. I can also say to the scoffers, “Well, here is the amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from; and yet He opened my eyes!” (v.30)

David had confidence that God heard him. He held that key of belief in his heart. He had the “inheritance of those who fear Your name.” (v.5) It’s kind of like a club… being a believer… enjoying a relationship with the God of the universe. But it’s not exclusive; membership is offered free to ALL who want to join!

The true meaning of Jesus’ words might get a bit lost in translation for US. But His Jewish audience would have understood exactly what He meant. Jesus was claiming to be GOD. He also laid out the way to salvation when He said, “…unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.” (v.24)

Notice that Jesus did not excuse or downplay her sin. He told her, “Go. From now on do not sin any longer.” BUT He enveloped that admonishment within compassion and forgiveness. Instead of pointing at HER sin with condemnation, He pointed at the sin of all the others who were condemning her. He reminded us that we are ALL sinners worthy of death. But that death sentence has been wrapped up within His forgiveness. The penalty for our sins has been fulfilled by His sacrifice.

And that same holy river, the Holy Spirit, flows through each one of us today! How fantastic that the entire Bible speaks of this glorious living river. The more I delve into the Scriptures, the more my eyes are opened to see how magical and unified it is. Only God could have assembled this amazing book!

Thank God, there is always a remnant. Then and now, there has always been a handful of believers threading us together throughout all of human history… spiritually hungry people who see beyond their temporary physical circumstance, those who feel God’s call on their life, people like Simon Peter, to whom God has revealed that Jesus is the “Holy One of God,” who has “the words of eternal life.” We know that there really is nowhere else to go.