The Barriers we all have

John 5:1-9


Barriers, we all have them. Some are physical, mental and spiritual. Others are from the past, some are in our present and many are future. So there are many types and in each one of our lives.

A preacher friend of mine told this story to illustrate barriers.  He was walking in his neighborhood one morning and a mean loud little dog started barking and chasing him. My preacher friend stop and noticed the dog stop at the edge of the yard but continued to bark. The owner of the dog came out and said don't worry, the dog's bark is bigger than his bite. My preacher friend said I glad the dog stopped at the edge of the yard.  The dog owner yes, we trained him that way, with a wireless fence and a shock collar. And now we don't even put a collar on the dog, for he knows and has learn to stop at the edge of the yard.  It really became the dogs unseen barrier and he would not proceed further.

And I thought, what about us, what about many of us.  We all have barriers that we put up. Barriers that was put  there because we felt pain or shocked. From family, friends and failures And we know that if we go to the edge or to the limit we will get shocked or hurt. So many time we  ignore it or don't even go that way.

The lamed man in John 5 could not get to healing pool, of which, was probably a traditional story anyway, But the Lord came along and broke down the lame man's barrier to heal and help him.  Upon Jesus' command, upon His word, His call, the lame man arose and was healed. Then that physical barrier was torn down by the Lord.

What barriers are in you way?? Have you put them up because of pain and problems. Are there family barriers, social barriers, maybe financial barriers ??  Any of which can be broke down by the Lord Jesus. For when we hear His call and trust His word, then He can help us. The bible says in Proverbs 3
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes:

But first, you have to saved, born again.  Call on His name for salvation, become a child of God, by accepting Jesus and He will help you. For with the heart men believe.

May God bless you friend,
RevDanSam
(we have heard a joyful sound, Jesus' saves, Jesus' saves)

A message to the Brethren

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17

While listening to the KJV bible being read to me, using a Bible App on my cell phone, these words jumped out to me.

What is our Risen Savior is wanting to tell us!!

First, go to the Brethren.  I am convinced there are messages for the lost world and there are messages / words for the Brethren, meaning the saved, the Child of God who has experienced the new birth.  God's people, the brethren, those who are apart of the family of God. In this case, go to the disciples, those believers and followers of God. Those that believed Jesus is God's son, The Messiah. Don't go to the lost and non-believers, at this time, we have a message for them, but go to the believers.

Secondly, go tell them I ascend unto my Father, your Father and to my God and your God.  He is alive and He ascended to the Heavenly Father.  There's much I could say here, He was taking His perfect sinless shed blood to the Father for the sins of the whole world !! Which was accepted by God to atone for the sins of the world. God accepted the sacrifice of His dear son, fulfilling the blood atonement that started in the Old Testament and His shed blood will last through all eternity. I ascend to my Father, with much to do and fulfill.

Then Thirdly,  He said your Father and your God.  Our personal relationship with God is through Jesus Christ. Your God loves you. Your God cares, shares and gives.  For He is our God and we are His people.  Not only does it speak of our relationship, but it speaks of our redemption, for we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, of His dear son.  His blood paid the sin debt that the first Adam lost in the garden of Eden. Peter said in his book, Chapter 1:18, forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, ²¹ who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!!  Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, it's now and forever!!  (PTL!!)

He said, your Father and your God, which spoke of our personal relationship, a provided redemption and a precious reward. We will be in Heaven with God and His house. Jesus said in John 14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

A message to the Brethren, the believers, the real followers for Christ.

And now dear friend, are you saved?? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?? Ye must be Born again. 

The bible says in Romans Chapter 10:13 For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, but you must realize, it's NOT just head knowledge, for with the heart man believes and with mouth confession is made.  So please, if the Holy Spirit is leading you, call on the Lord Jesus Today.

May God bless you,
RevDanSam

Three Great thoughts

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psa. 18:46

We see three things here:

I. A Great proclamation - "The Lord Liveth"
- it's personal, He lives within my heart
- it's practical, he walks with me and talks to me (prayer / bible study)
- it's proven, He arose from the grave
see Act 1:11
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 II. A great foundation "my rock"
- All other grounds are sinking sand
- A solid rock for a solid cornerstone
see Matt 7:24
²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 III. A great salvation "my salvation"
- A great plan from God's heart
- A great provision for those that are lost
- A great peace for the saved, after you're saved.

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ^9 [e]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, ^[f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^[g]resulting in salvation.

 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

May God bless you friend,

Rev DanSam

Seen and Heard

It is very common for us to tell many what we have “seen and “heard”.  Usually it’s about a ball game, big event or bad news, we have repeated what we have seen and heard.

 The Apostles Peter and John did the same thing, it’s very human.  Notice in Acts 4:20, Peter says to his accusers, But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot (stop) but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

John would repeat this in his book 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, of the Word of life

Jesus Christ made a big impression on His disciples (learners) as a teacher and Lord. Look at the books of bible, Matthew, a disciple of Jesus, tries to tell us what he had seen and heard, as his book shows Jesus Christ as the King of the Jews, as a large part of theologians would agree. Also 1^st and 2^nd Peter, Peter had seen and heard Him to be Hopeful in Him and 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd John and the Gospel of John, which tells us what John had “seen and heard” that Jesus is the son of God.

Just to name a few of His disciples, but these men, followed Him as they turned away from their occupations and followed Christ Jesus. They believed and trusted in Him and they told us, through their writings what they had seen and heard.

 

May I say as a personal testimony, that when I speak, preach or blog, I am telling you and informing you, what I have “seen and heard” of the Lord Jesus Christ. During the 1980s, 1990s and now 2000s I have seen and heard many things while in meetings and service for Him.  People saying yes to Jesus for soul salvation, homes being brought together, other people getting their life right with the Lord, healing physically, spiritually and emotionally.  And it all started at my own personal salvation, when I got save in 1974. A thirteen-year-old boy, really at the crossroads of my life, I chose Christ!!

And now my friend, the same can start with ‘YOU”.  Today can be the day of salvation for you, for YOU can call on the name of the Lord and be saved!!

The bible says in the book of Romans chapter 10, for with the heart man believes and with mouth confession that Jesus is Lord, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Today is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time!!

 

May God Bless you and thanks for reading what I have “seen and heard”

RevDanSam