Why I Follow Jesus

If I have problems even after I become a Christian, what is the point of following Him?

I follow Jesus not because I want a magical genie, granting my every wish, or a knight on a white horse rescuing me when I am in trouble.

I follow Jesus not because I think it will make me wealthy, or keep bad things from happening to me.

I follow Him because I believe that He is God. 

In life, he showed me how to live.  

In death, he shows me his mercy. 

In his resurrection, He shows me hope.

For that I love Him, and I will follow Him.

Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).

He either is, or He isn't.   I believe He is.

Two Travelers and the Farmer

When I thing about making a change I often think of this story:

A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment.

"What sort of people live in the next town?" asked the stranger.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer, answering the question with another question.

"They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I'm happy to be leaving the scoundrels."

"Is that so?" replied the old farmer. "Well, I'm afraid that you'll find the same sort in the next town.
Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. "What sort of people live in the next town?" he asked.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer once again.
  "They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I'm sorry to be leaving them."
"Fear not," said the farmer. "You'll find the same sort in the next town."

Author Unknown 

What Hinders the Flow of the Spirit

      

Nona Freeman had a vision God gave her in 1952 while the Freemans were serving as missionaries in Africa. The Freemans had been on an extended fast and were seeking God for revival. One morning during this season of prayer and fasting Nona was awakened by a presence in her room. As she recovered from the initial shock of this experience she said she observed a being clothed with a long flowing robe from which emanated streams of light.  

        

This presence approached her and said, “Don’t be afraid, I have come to give you the secret to revival.” The angelic visitor then unrolled a scroll containing the words of John 7:38—“He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” The word flow was emphasized in a way that called her attention to that specific word.

The messenger told her that God’s people were using too much human energy, that there was too much scheming and planning, and that human knowledge is a hindrance to revival. She was further told that revival would come when the Spirit flows through the church.

Nona asked, “What hinders the flowing of the Spirit?”

God’s messenger listed fourteen things that keep the Spirit from flowing. Nona recorded them in her Bible. 

 She said she was told that the Spirit would be made visible to her eyes. What she saw was a rainbow-colored light with the consistency of flowing water. As she beheld this she was taken into a service in one of our churches. The preacher was preaching the truth and the people were saying, “Amen.” But as she watched this scene the angel asked her, “Do you feel the deadness and formality?” She acknowledged the deadness and she saw the Spirit carried her into another Pentecostal service. The preacher was preaching the same sermon the first preacher had been preaching. But there was a difference. Light was pouring into the top of his head and flowing out of his hands as he ministered God’s Word. She observed that this congregation was somewhat subdued in their response, but the Light was pouring into them and then flowing out of them.    

      

Into this setting walked a man with a sneer that seemed to say, “You won't get me.” He sat in the back of the room by a smiling older couple that made room for him. As the Spirit of God flowed out of the couple it encircled the sneering man who cried out, “My God, I'm lost.” He fell to the floor full length and was shortly filled with the Holy Ghost.

Sister Freeman said saw that the Spirit flowing in every direction from the church and that a woman outside the church was encircled by the Spirit and filled with the Holy Ghost.  

       

As I recall that story that I first heard many years ago I long for the Spirit to flow through me and through the people to whom I minister! And I am reminded of the Scripture that says, “It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6).     

   

We must not scheme or resort to human knowledge. If we have the courage to remove resentment, bitterness, criticism, judgmentalism, lust, complaining, rebellion, jealousy, ambition, and the desire to have a name of spirituality we will have revival.     

     

Are you willing for God to cleanse your life of anything that hinders the flow of His Spirit? As you pray, ask God to reveal to you anything in your life that hinders revival in the church you attend. When God shows you something be ready to faithfully and courageously deal with it. Allow God’s Spirit to flow through you to the lost.     

By Simeon Young Sr.  
Pentecostal Herald 

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37.39.)   

INSECURITIES

I was typing the word "insecurities" when auto correct changed "insecurities" to something like "insect itis." We have all been 'infected' by this lie about ourselves at some time. It eats away at our self esteem and self worth. I have found that often the very qualities we are ashamed of are the ones that reveal our greatest gifts. There is a constant battle going on in our mind between the positive and negative. Feed your mind with good, positive, life changing thoughts. Change your thoughts... Change your life. One of the greatest journeys in life is overcoming the lies and embracing the truth. Today is a good day to start.

Things Aren't Always As It Seems

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we think they should. If we have faith, we have to trust that the outcome has a purpose. We just might not know it until some time later...


Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die."

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you need to trust that the outcome has a purpose. You just might not know it until some time later..

Author Unknown